PROCEEDINGS OP THE SUMMER MEETING. 71 



And where might it not have been if each and every grower had been faith- 

 ful to the letter and spirit of the law? You may call these imaginary ques- 

 tions, but among those who have earnestly labored to make the legal 

 remedy effectual, who will say he is not satisfied with the result? Who 

 can wish the work had not been done? And who among the delinquents 

 does not wish he had cut the first tree and every tree as the disease 

 appeared upon his own grounds? 



Within a period of ten years or less after peach yellows found its way 

 into Berrien county, the peach industry was entirely wiped out. There 

 may have been a few straggling trees left, but it was difficult to find 

 them. Would not the same be true of the whole peach belt under like 

 treatment? 



When we contrast the difference between those sections where sanitary 

 measures were thus early introduced and faithfully carried out and those 

 left in their diseased condition from year to year, or doctored with imag- 

 inary remedies and semi-scientific prescriptions, we are satisfied with the 

 result. 



During the years 1877, 1878, and 1879, peach yellows raged like an 

 epidemic from South Haven to Saugatuck along the lake shore. There 

 the first battle of opposition to its progress was fought and there sub- 

 stantial progress was made in counteracting its ravages. Since that time 

 the number of diseased trees that have appeared from year to year is very 

 limited. 



Other localities, further from the lake, seemed to be more fortunate then 

 than now. Wherever thorough work was not done to counteract the prog- 

 ress of peach yellows in 1878 and 1879, it has of late assumed an epidemic 

 form to the great detriment of the peach industry. These facts give us 

 sufficient ground for encouragement for future work. 



We do not attribute this decline in the ravages of peach yellows to any 

 advantage gained by contiguity to lake Michigan, unless it he that on our' 

 western border no delinquent worker for extermination could leave his 

 diseased trees standing to harbor germs for future dissemination or 

 growth. 



We have only attempted to approximate the periods of greatest out- 

 breaks of yellows in general terms, keeping in mind the fact that it does 

 not show its worst features in all parts of the country at the same time. 

 Like a contagious disease in the human family, it may prevail in Mary- 

 land one year and in Michigan the next, or vice versa. 



The exact dates of greatest destruction, as recorded by Dr. Erwin F. 

 Smith, special agent of the national department of agriculture, run as fol- 

 lows: First recognized appearance of peach yellows in 1791. Then 

 followed the epidemic periods of 1806 and 1807, 1817 to 1821, 1845 to 

 1858, 1874 to 1878, 1886 to 1888, and 1890 to 1892. As the former periods 

 were followed by comparative immunity, we look for similar results at the 

 present time. 



HOW KEPKESSION IS TO BE ACCOMPLISHED. 



But this result can not be looked for without effort. The best sanitary 

 measures must be used. Those who keep up a vigorous warfare upon 

 every tree and influence which can harbor the germs of propagation will 

 soon have an open field for extending their plantations, and less compe- 

 tition in the markets. If they suffer for a while from the negligence 



